Islamabad:
In what seemed to be a high -level intervention to defuse political tensions between the governments of Sindh and Punjab, President Asif Ali Zardari summoned Federal Interior Minister Mohin Naqvi to Karachi on Monday for urgent consultations, Express News reported.
This decision came as a war of words between the Pakistani-Nawaz Muslim League (PML-N), which governs the Punjab, and the Pakistani peoples’ party (PPP), which reigns the Sindh, degenerated-spreading in the two chambers of Parliament.
On Monday, the sessions of the Senate and the National Assembly felt on Monday the warmth of the current row on the distribution of aid between the victims of the floods, while the legislators of the PPP organized a debrw to protest against the “inappropriate” remarks against the party leadership.
According to Express News, the Minister of the Interior, Naqvi, flew to Karachi in the evening. Accompanied by the main minister of Sindh, Sharjeel Inam Memon, he then met the Minister of the Interior of the Sindh, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, to offer condolences on the disappearance of his mother.
Citing official sources, Express News said President Zardari had a telephone conversation with Naqvi and discussed the growing discord between the two provincial administrations. The president would have ordered Naqvi to reach Karachi immediately.
The disagreement between the two provincial governments stems from rescue operations for people affected by floods, Sindh and Punjab criticizing each other on the treatment of aid distribution.
The Sindh government insisted that the alleviation of floods should be channeled by the Benazir income support program (BISP), while the Punjab government, led by chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, refused to adopt the BISP mechanism.
Consequently, the ministers of the two provinces organized consecutive press conferences, exchanging net words on the issue. But Monday, the War of Words exceeded the media and entered the two chambers of Parliament.
PPP parliamentary chief Sherry Rehman raised the issue to the Senate, firmly criticizing the recent statements by the Punjab Minister. She warned that political confrontation has been undergoing national unity at a time when millions of people suffered due to floods.
“Instead of strengthening people, we weaken them,” she said. “This war of words affects the federal coalition,” she added, while condemning the remarks concerning the president of the PPP, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the first lady Asefa Bhutto Zardari.
Looking for apologies for inappropriate comments, Rehman said that would not decrease the dignity of anyone. After his speech, the PPP senators torn the agenda of the day and left the session to protest.
Responding to his remarks, the minister of Law, Azam Nazeer Tarar, said that if someone’s words had caused offenses, it was regrettable. “President Zardari is a main politician and will play a role of reconciliation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI), Barrister Ali Zafar, joined the debate, criticizing the two provincial governments. “People die in floods while the leaders of the Sindh and Punjab are competing for photo sessions and press conferences,” he accused.
“The relief has not reached the victims-perhaps it has only reached their own pockets. This has become a competition on which can hold more press conferences,” he said, alleging that any aid was granted to the victims of the floods “was the prey of corruption”.
Similar scenes have also been observed in the National Assembly. The senior PPP official, Raja Perviz Ashraf, told the House that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had said nothing against the Punjab government, but that “irresponsible statements” came from the ruling party.
After his remarks, PPP legislators left the Assembly to protest. Pti Mna Asad Qaiser then took the ground, urging the PPP not to engage in a “friendly fire”. He said: “Show a little courage-join us to bring a motion of non-confidence. Let’s not play a staged match.”
